Ejected shell retainer

ABSTRACT

An ejected shell retainer for a multiple shot semiautomatic gun which consists of a keeper rod slidably supported on the gun substantially parallel to the barrel, and disposed adjacent the discharge port. In an operative position, the keeper rod holds the empty shell in the gun receiver where it can be manually removed after a single firing. In a nonoperative position, the keeper rod allows the ejected shells to leave the discharge port so that the magazine can be fully loaded to permit multiple firing of the gun.

United States Patent [72] inventor Kenneth W. Jensen 9309 Louis, Detroit, Mich. 48239 21 Appl. No. 813,585 [22] Filed Apr. 4, 19.69

[45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [54] EJECTED SHELL RETAINER 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 42/1 R, 89/33 F [51] Int. Cl F4lc 27/00 [50] Field of Search 41/1; 89/33.4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,387 4/1963 Browning 42/1 3,270,617 9/1966 Seymour et al. 89/33 (.4)

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan AttorneyAdolph G. Martin ABSTRACT: An ejected shell retainer for a multiple shot semiautomatic gun which consists of a keeper rod slidably supported on the gun substantially parallel to the barrel, and disposed adjacent the discharge port. In an operative position, the keeper rod holds the empty shell in the gun receiver where it can be manually removed after a single firing. in a nonoperative position, the keeper rod allows the ejected shells to leave the discharge port so that the magazine can be fully loaded to permit multiplefiring of the gun.

PATENTEUSEP Han 3503015 mvemoa KENNETH W. JENSEN TTORNEY EJECTED SHELL RETAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to firearms, and particularly to a device for use on semiautomatic guns to permit discharged shells to be removed manually from the gun receiver following a single firing. Many sportsmen resort to the practice of reloading empty shells so as to reduce the cost of their ammunition. Such practice, however, requires the shooter to collect the empty casings, and whenever semiautomatic guns are beingused, this entails retrieving the casings from the ground after they have .beenautomaticall'y ejected.

Therefore, whenonly a single firing of the gun is required, as in skeet or trap shooting, it would be extremely desirable to have the ejected shell retained in the gun receiver. In this way the shooter could conveniently. retrieve the empty casings and simultaneously therewith prevent them from becoming damaged by falling to the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a modified ,bolt handle 20 issubstituted for the removable bolthandle BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a semiautomatic gun with the applicants retainer thereto attached, showing both the forward and the retracted position of the keeper rod 30.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, taken substantially on plane 22 in FIG. 1, showing the keeper rod 30 in a forward position adjacent thedischarge port 24 of the gun 10.

FIG. 3' is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on pIane3-3 in FIG. 1, showing the friction block 36 and the retainer screw 38 in the modified bolt handle 20.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the applicants retainer, detached from the gun 10, showing structural details of the modified bolt handle 20 and keeper rod 30.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a modification of the invention, showing the 4 base 50 and the slot 52 therein for receiving the bolt handle 20.

FIG. 6 is a section view, taken substantially on plane 6-6 in FIG. 5, showing the friction block 56 and the retainer screw 58 in the base 50.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of another modification of the I invention, showing the operator button 64 on the lower end of the plunger 60.

FIG. 8 is a section view, taken substantially on plane 88 in FIG. 7, showing the transverse annular shoulder 76 on the keeper rod 30 and the compression spring 72 thereon mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION CONSTRUCTION For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to FIGS. land 2 of the drawings, in which numeral 10 designates a semiautomatic gun comprising a barrel 12, integral with a receiver 14 which is attached to a stock 16. Ejector mechanism 18 is provided with a removable bolt handle 20 extending through a closure plate 22 for controlling a laterally disposed discharge port 24 in the receiver 14.

The removable bolt handle 20 is detachably held in the ejector mechanism 18 by a spring-loaded ball 26 which is yieldably seated in a downwardly disposed detent 28, as shown in FIG. 3. A keeper rod 30 is slidably mounted in the removable bolt handle 20 transverse thereto, and substantially parallel to the barrel l2 ofthe gun 10.

The keeper rod 30 is spaced from the receiver 14 of the gun l0, and disposed adjacent the discharge port 24. A pair of spaced stops 32 on the keeper rod 30 provide a forward and a retracted position for the rod 30. An upwardly disposed bore 34 in the removable bolt handle 20 has therein a'block of friction material 36, such as neoprene, held in bearing engagement with the keeper rod 30 by an adjustable retainer screw 38.

The modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, in that it constitutes an attachment which may be removably mounted on a bolt handle 20 that is permanently attached to the ejector mechanism 18. This modification consists of a base 50 having therein a slot 52 contoured to receive the outer terminus of the bolt handle 20. A setscrew 54 in the base 50 can be adjusted to holdably engage the bolt handle 20. A block 56 of friction material, such as neoprene, is held in bearing engagement with the keeper rod 30 by an adjustable retainer screw 58.

The modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 differs from the preferred embodiment of FIGS. I through 4, in that it provides a different means for holding the keeper rod 30 in its assigned position. In this embodiment, a plunger 60, slidably mounted in the bolt handle 20, has therethrough a transverse opening 62 adjacent the upper end, through which the keeper rod 30 extends. An operator button 64 on the lower end of the plunger 60, provides an annular laterally disposed shoulder A coil spring 68, seated on the annular shoulder 66, yieldably urges the plunger 60 to its extended position, shown by the broken lines 70 in FIG. 8. A coil spring 72, on the keeper rod 30 yieldably holds it in a forward position. A centrally disposed undercut section 74 on the keeper rod 30 provides a transverse annular shoulder 76 for holdably engaging the plunger 60 when the rod 30 is in a retracted position, shown by the broken lines 78 in FIG. 8.

In practice, any manufacturer of semiautomatic guns with ejector mechanism 18 having a bolt handle 20 which cannot be readily removed, may permanently install the applicants keeper rod 30 at the factory. By so doing, the gun is able to be instantly adapted to retain discharged shells, following a single firing, without resort to use of the applicants attachment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structural details of the applicants invention herein disclosed, however, to facilitate a more thorough understanding and appreciation of the subject matter, a discussion is immediately hereinafter set forth explaining the manner in which the device is used to perform its intended function.

Since the several embodiments disclosed operated in substantially the same manner, the discussion relating to use, will be limited to the disclosure of FIGS. 1 through 4. When it is desired to adapt a gun 10, of the semiautomatic type shown, so that it will retain exploded shells 80 in the receiver 14, the keeper rod 30 in the bolt handle 20 is moved to its forward position, shown by the full lines in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In this position, the keeper rod 30 is disposed opposite the discharge port 24.

A single shell is next inserted into the magazine of the gun 10, and the bolt handle 20 moved rearwardly to place the shell in position for introduction into the barrel I2. The bolt handle 20 is then thrust forward thereby loading and arming the gun 10. When the shell has been exploded, the compression thereby generated actuates the ejector mechanism 18 which extracts the empty shell 80 from the barrel 12. The empty shell 80, however, is held in the receiver 14 of the gun 10 by the keeper rod 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The shooter can them manually retrieve the empty shell 80 from the receiver 14, and retain it for reloading. If it is desired to adapt the gun for multiple firing, the keeper rod is moved to a retracted position, shown by the broken lines 82 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The ejector mechanism 18 will then be able to thrust the empty shell 80 from the discharge port 24, and reload the gun l0 automatically with ammunition from the magazine in the customary manner well known to all users of semiautomatic guns.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a longfelt need in the field of semiautomatic guns, and that he has made made a valuable and significant contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the structural details of a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated by those familiar with the art, that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

Therefore, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A retainer for holding shells ejected from a multiple shot semiautomatic gun having a barrel, a laterally disposed discharge port and shell ejector mechanism including an outwardly extending bolt handle for manually operating the shell ejector mechanism, said retainer comprising a keeper rod slidably supported by the bolt handle and disposed substantially parallel to the barrel of the gun, a pair of spaced stops on the keeper rod providing a forward and a retracted position for the rod, and means associated with the keeper rod for yieldably holding it in either its forward or retracted position, such forward position enabling the keeper rod to retain the shell which is automatically ejected following a single firing of the gun, and said retracted position of the keeper rod permitting the automatically ejected shell to fall from the discharge port during a multiple firing of the gun.

2. The retainer of claim 1 in which the keeper rod is slidably mounted in the bolt handle of the shell ejector mechanism.

3. The retainer of claim 2 in which the means associated with the keeper rod for yieldably holding it in either its forward or retracted position comprises a friction member on the bolt handle in bearing engagement with the keeper rod.

4. The retainer of claim 2 in which the means associated with the keeper rod for yieldably holding it in either its forward or retracted position comprises a plunger mounted in the bolt handle, a resilient member on the keeper rod yieldably holding it in a forward position, a resilient member on the plunger for automatically moving it into a releasable holding engagement with the keeper rod when the rod is in a retracted position, such plunger being operable to release the keeper rod whereupon the resilient member on the rod automatically shifts it to a forward position.

5. A retainer attachment for holding shells ejected from a multiple shot semiautomatic gun having a barrel, a laterally disposed discharge port and shell ejector mechanism including an outwardly extending detachable bolt handle for manually operating the shell ejector mechanism, said retainer attachment comprising a modified bolt handle adapted to replace the detachable bolt handle on the shell ejector mechanism, a keeper rod slidably mounted on the modified bolt handle and disposed substantially parallel to the barrel of the gun, a pair of spaced stops on the keeper rod providing a forward and a retracted position for the rod, and means on the modified bolt handle for yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position, such forward position enabling the keeper rod to retain the shell which is automatically ejected following a single firing of the gun, and said retracted position of the keeper rod permitting the automatically ejected shells to fall from the discharge port during a multiple firing of the gun.

6. The retainer attachment of claim Sin which the means on the modified bolt handle yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a friction member on the modified bolt in bearing engagement with the keeper rod.

7. The retainer attachment of claim 5 in which the means on the modified bolt handle yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a plunger mounted in the modified bolt handle, a resilient member on the keeper rod yieldably holding it in a forward position, a resilient member associated with the plunger for automatically moving it into a releasable holding engagement with the keeper rod when the rod is in a retracted position, such plunger being manually operable to release the keeper rod whereupon the resilient member on the rod shifts it to a forward position.

8. A retainer attachment for holding shells ejected from a multiple shot semiautomatic gun having a barrel, a laterally disposed discharge port and shell ejector mechanism including an outwardly extending bolt handle for manually operating the shell ejector mechanism, said retainer attachment comprising a base having therein a slot for receiving the bolt handle on the shell ejector mechanism, means for detachably securing the base to the bolt handle, a keeper rod slidably mounted on the base so as to be substantially parallel to the barrel of the gun, a pair of spaced stops on the keeper rod providing a forward and a retracted position for the rod, and means on the base for yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position, such forward position enabling the keeper rod to retain the shell which is automatically ejected following a single firing of the gun, and said retracted position of the keeper rod permitting the automatically ejected shells to fall from the discharge port during a multiple firing of the gun.

9. The retainer attachment of claim 8 in which the means on the base yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a friction member on the base in bearing engagement with the keeper rod.

10. The retainer attachment of claim 8 in which the means on the base for yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a plunger mounted in the base, a resilient member on the keeper rod yieldably holding it in a forward position, a resilient member associated with the plunger for automatically moving it into a releasable holding engagement with the keeper rod when the rod is in a retracted position, such plunger being manually operable to release the keeper rod whereupon the resilient member on the rod shifts it to a forward position. 

1. A retainer for holding shells ejected from a multiple shot semiautomatic gun having a barrel, a laterally disposed discharge port and shell ejector mechanism including an outwardly extending bolt handle for manually operating the shell ejector mechanism, said retainer comprising a keeper rod slidably supported by the bolt handle and disposed substantially parallel to the barrel of the gun, a pair of spaced stops on the keeper rod providing a forward and a retracted position for the rod, and means associated with the keeper rod for yieldably holding it in either its forward or retracted position, such forward position enabling the keeper rod to retain the shell which is automatically ejected following a single firing of the gun, and said retracted position of the keeper rod permitting the automatically ejected shell to fall from the discharge port during a multiple firing of the gun.
 2. The retainer of claim 1 in which the keeper rod is slidably mounted in the bolt handle of the shell ejector mechanism.
 3. The retainer of claim 2 in which the means associated with the keeper rod for yieldably holding it in either its forward or retracted position comprises a friction member on the bolt handle in bearing engagement with the keeper rod.
 4. The retainer of claim 2 in which the means associated with the keeper rod for yieldably holding it in either its forward or retracted position comprises a plunger mounted in the bolt handle, a resilient member on the keeper rod yieldably holding it in a forward position, a resilient member on the plunger for automatically moving it into a releasable holding engagement with the keeper rod when the rod is in a retracted position, such plunger being operable to release the keeper rod whereupon the resilient member on the rod automatically shifts it to a forward position.
 5. A retainer attachment for holding shells ejected from a multiple shot semiautomatic gun having a barrel, a laterally disposed discharge port and shell ejector mechanism including an outwardly extending detachable bolt handle for manually operating the shell ejector mechanism, said retainer attachment comprising a modified bolt handle adapted to replace the detachable bolt handle on the shell ejector mechanism, a keeper rod slidably mounted on the modified bolt handle and disposed substantially parallel to the barrel of the gun, a pair of spaced stops on the keeper rod providing a forward and a retracted position fOr the rod, and means on the modified bolt handle for yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position, such forward position enabling the keeper rod to retain the shell which is automatically ejected following a single firing of the gun, and said retracted position of the keeper rod permitting the automatically ejected shells to fall from the discharge port during a multiple firing of the gun.
 6. The retainer attachment of claim 5 in which the means on the modified bolt handle yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a friction member on the modified bolt in bearing engagement with the keeper rod.
 7. The retainer attachment of claim 5 in which the means on the modified bolt handle yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a plunger mounted in the modified bolt handle, a resilient member on the keeper rod yieldably holding it in a forward position, a resilient member associated with the plunger for automatically moving it into a releasable holding engagement with the keeper rod when the rod is in a retracted position, such plunger being manually operable to release the keeper rod whereupon the resilient member on the rod shifts it to a forward position.
 8. A retainer attachment for holding shells ejected from a multiple shot semiautomatic gun having a barrel, a laterally disposed discharge port and shell ejector mechanism including an outwardly extending bolt handle for manually operating the shell ejector mechanism, said retainer attachment comprising a base having therein a slot for receiving the bolt handle on the shell ejector mechanism, means for detachably securing the base to the bolt handle, a keeper rod slidably mounted on the base so as to be substantially parallel to the barrel of the gun, a pair of spaced stops on the keeper rod providing a forward and a retracted position for the rod, and means on the base for yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position, such forward position enabling the keeper rod to retain the shell which is automatically ejected following a single firing of the gun, and said retracted position of the keeper rod permitting the automatically ejected shells to fall from the discharge port during a multiple firing of the gun.
 9. The retainer attachment of claim 8 in which the means on the base yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a friction member on the base in bearing engagement with the keeper rod.
 10. The retainer attachment of claim 8 in which the means on the base for yieldably holding the keeper rod in either its forward or retracted position comprises a plunger mounted in the base, a resilient member on the keeper rod yieldably holding it in a forward position, a resilient member associated with the plunger for automatically moving it into a releasable holding engagement with the keeper rod when the rod is in a retracted position, such plunger being manually operable to release the keeper rod whereupon the resilient member on the rod shifts it to a forward position. 